The Influence of US Hegemony on the South African Anti- Trafficking in Persons Movement

126 Pages·2016·1.8 MB·English

UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND
School of Social Sciences
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Master’s Theses
Political Studies
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The Influence of US Hegemony on the South African Anti-
Trafficking in Persons Movement

By:
René Puzzo Moodley
(0618830D)

Supervisor:
Professor Joel Quirk

A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the
Masters of Arts Degree in Political Studies, Faculty of the Humanities at the
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

15 March 2016
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Abstract
The contemporary movement to end human trafficking rose to prominence in the early to mid
1990s. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, the US found itself in need of new tools to extend
its global reach. This report argues that the modern day movement to abolish human trafficking
is one of the new tools used to advance US hegemony. South Africa provides a unique context
for the study of how US hegemony has been employed through this movement. The rise of this
movement coincided with the rise of democracy in the rainbow nation. Under Apartheid, US
policy toward South Africa was linked with the fight against communism. The US would
channel money to black liberation movements in order to shape their views in a pro-western
direction. South Africa was considered important to US economic interests and prosperity. With
the communist enemy gone, the US has employed new tools to influence ideology, policy and
legislation. Through studying the Anti -Trafficking in Persons (TIP) movement in the South
African context, this report analyzes how the movement is a tool of hegemony. Tactics used to
gain public consent and legitimize the cause are uncovered, as are coercive measures used to
stronghold the South African gov ernment to comply with the US.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Plagiarism Declaration
Abstract
Abbreviations…………………………………………………………………………….. iii
Acknowledgments………………………………………………………………………... iv
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………. 1
Research Aims……………………………………………………………………………… 1
Background to the Problem………………………………………………………………… 2
Research Questions………………………………………………………………………… .7
Theoretical Framework………………………………………………………………… …...7
Methodology ………………………………………………………………………………. 10
Methodological Limitations……………………………………………………………… …13
Chapter Outline………………………………………………………………………… …. 14
Chapter One: United States Hegemony and Trafficking in Persons Discourse ……….17
1.1. The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Movement: Past Rhetoric, Modern Agenda……...17
1.1.1 Defining Human Trafficking…………………………………………………… .….22
1.2. US Hegemony, the Ideology of the Execu tive & the Global Gag Order…………... 25
1.2.1. The Annual Trafficking in Persons Report………………………………………… 30
Chapter Two: The South African Count er TIP Movement – An Extension of US
Ideology and Hegemony…………………………………………………. 36
2.1. South Africa – A Review of the Counter -Trafficking Discourse & the Making
of a Movement………………………………………………………………………37
2.1.1 Reviewing the South African Traffi cking in Persons Debate……………………… 42
2.2 The FIFA World Cup………………………………………………………………. 46
2.3 Skeptics vs. Believers – The Role of the Ideological Divide……………………… 51
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Chapter Three: Representations and Misrepresentations of Human Trafficking……56
3.1 TIP Representation: A Comparison of US & South African Victim Portrayals …. 57
3.2 Victim Framing and the 2010 FIFA World Cup…………………………………… 66
Chapter Four: Ideology and Funding Guiding Policy and Response………………… 72
4.1 Member Organizations……………………………………………………………...73
4.1.1 Ideology, Motivation, and Members of the Gauteng Task Team…………………. 75
4.2 Following the Money – The Role of US Hegemony and Funding…………………85
4.2.1 US-DOL and USAID Funded Counter-Trafficking Programs……………………. 86
4.2.2 US-DOS Funded Counter-Trafficking Programs…………………………………. 88
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………… 93
4.1. Summary of Research Findings…………………………………………………… 93
4.2. Implications of the Current Discourse……………………………………………... 99
4.3. Recommendations for F uture Research…………………………………………… 102
4.3.1. Legislation, Emigration/Immigration Regulati ons & Human Rights Violations…. 102
Bibliography

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Abbreviations

RECLISA Reducing Exploitive Child
ACMS African Centre for Migration &
Society Labour in Southern Africa
RSA Republic of South Africa
AFU Asset Forfeiture Unit
AIR American Institute for Research SACTAP South African Counter
Trafficking Assistance
BCOCC Border Control Operational
Programme
Coordinating Committee
SADC South African Development
CCPCJ UN Commission on Crime
Community
Prevention and Criminal Justice
SAPS South African Police Services
CLPA Child Labour Program of
Action SWEAT Sex Workers Education &
Advocacy Taskforce
DHA Department of Home Affairs
TECL Towards the Elimination of the
DOJ Department of Justice
Worst forms of Child Labour
DPCI Directorate for Priority Crime
TIP Trafficking in Persons
Investigation (Hawks)
TVPA Trafficking Victims Protection
DSD Department of Social
Act
Development
UN United Nations
FMSP Forced Migration Studies
UNESCO United Nations Educational,
Programme
Scientific and Cultural
ICE Immigration & Customs
Organization
Enforcement
UNHCR United Nations High
IGO Intergovernmental Organization
Commission for Refugees
ILO International Labour
UNICEF United Nations Children’s
Organization
Emergency Fund
IOM International Organization for
UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs
Migration
and Crime
MIDSA Migration Dialogue for
UNISA University of South Africa
Southern Africa
USAID United States Agency for
MRA Migration & Refugee
International Development
Assistance Office
USD United States Dollar
NFN National Freedom Network
US-DOL United States Department of
NGO Non-Governmental
Labor
Organization
US-DOS United States Department of
NORAD Norwegian Agency for
Defense
Development Cooperation
US-INS United States Immigration
NPA National Prosecuting Authority
and Naturalization Servic
OEDC Organization for Economic Co-
operation & Development
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Acknowledgements
When I applied to return to academia, I did not know the hardest times of my life (thus far)
would coincide with my academic journey. Multiple moves, the death of the only man in my life
worthy of the title “father” and a divorce made the completion of thi s degree a seemingly
insurmountable task. With this in mind, I would like to thank the following people for their
understanding, respect and help; without them, I would not have come this far.

Firstly, my adviser, Professor Joel Quirk : you probably never conceived of having an advisee
such as myself. I came to you with multiple problems. I could write a book on the events of the
past two years alone. In many ways, my dissertation topic has been a lived experience. I had to
leave the country with little notice, lest face ending up declared an “undesirable.” Having an
advisee such as me could not have been easy; I thank you for all your patience and
understanding. I wouldn’t have been able to complete this if you were not as delicate as you were
with me, even when I am sure you were frustrated beyond belief. I learned a lot from you. Thank
you.

I would also like to thank many friends, who are far more like family .Without you I do not
know where, or who, I would be. Jaco you are an amazing friend. Thank yo ufor all your
support, for making me laugh, and for letting me talk your ear off, on a loop, while my mind
tried to work out problems.Y ou will always be one of my best of friendsG. ia, although we may
not be in each other’s lives in a meaningful way righ tnow, thank you for being a rock when I
needed one. Polina, what can I say? You’re awesome and have been bringing light into my life
since we were 15 years old. The Singer Family, I don’t have enough words to thank you guys for
everything you have done fo rme and for my son. You’re all a blessing .

Ellen Russakoff, I literally would not be sitting here and writing this if not for you. You put a
roof over my (and my son’s) head, told me to complete my degree and worry about everything
else after. I wrote this report on your laptop, on your couch, sometimes with you by my side.
You truly are my best friend.Y ou had faith in me when I had lost it.T hank you for being the
wonderful woman you are. I believe that it is not what we do for a living that defines u sth; e role
we have in others lives is what matters most. I am trying to sum up, in words, just how much it
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means to me that I was able to complete this degree; I can’t think of words strong enough that
express my gratitude. I love you.

To the Dushku family, specifically Jim and Judy. Jim, you may not be with us anymore, but
there have been times where I have cried and wanted to give up on everything, and the thought
of thanking you in my completed work slapped me out of my own self pity. You and Judy put a
roof over my head when I didn’t have one, taught me what it is to be a strong woman, pushed me
to be a better person, made sure I had food and clothing, and were with me when I first began to
explore the world. You were there when my son took his first steps, made sure he had what he
needed, and have shown him the same love you have shown me. If what I described above is not
the job of a parent, than I, as a mother, do not know what is. Judy, you, Jim, and the rest of the
Dushku/Coleman “clan” are my chosen family. I love you.

Lastly but most defiantly not least, to my son, James. You were a large part of what motivated
me to complete this degree. I want to show you, through my actions, no matter what comes our
way, if we have a goal and people who love us, we should never give up on that goal, especially
if that goal somehow contributes to the world, in any small way. We may have to amend the path
we take to become who it is we strive to; we may hit roadblocks we never saw coming, bu twith
the help of those who love us, there is little we can’t accomplish (except getting a pet dragon…
sadly that is off the table). Never let anyone define you as less thanw hom you are; never allow
someone’s negative views on who you should bet aint that definition. You have gone through
this crazy adventure with me. I love you more than you could know.

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INTRODUCTION
Research Aims:
On April 27, 1994 the people of South Africa cast their vote in the nation’s first democratic
election. The African National Congress (ANC) held a majority of the vote; Nelson Mandela was
sworn in as the country’s first black President. During South Africa’s transition to democracy,
and throughout the Apartheid era, the United States of America (US) funneled millions of dollars
to various liberation movements. Under Apartheid, US policy towards South Africa was linked
with the fight against communism (Cummings: 1995; Karis: 1986). The US channeled money to
underground liberation movements to shape their views in a pro-Western direction, as the future
of South Africa was considered important to US economic interests and continued prosperity
(Cummings: 1995).
The fall of the Soviet Union and subsequent end of the Cold War led to a new era of US
dominance. As the communist enemy disappeared, ‘new’ threats emerged “to reinvent a
multitude of other enemies and dangers ”(Aradau, p. 252: 2004). Trafficking in Persons (TIP)
became a ‘new’ threat to US security, resulting in legislation which enabled the US to extend its
hegemonic influence (Aradau: 2004; Chuang: 2006). A central component of US an-titrafficking
legislation is ht e annual TIP repor twhich ranks countries based on efforts to fight TIP, imposing
economic sanctions ont hose that do not meet “minimum requiremen.t”s The threat of sanctions
provides a tool for US hegemony past the Cold War era (Chuang: 2006). The historical timing of
the rise of the contemporary movement to end TIP coincided with South Africa’s transition to
democracy. As the problem of “modern day slavery” has been fought in a way that extends US
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international reach, this report aims to uncover the role of US hegemony in South Africa’s
movement to end human trafficking .
Background of the Problem:
Although media attention has risen sharply over the past two decades, h uman trafficking is not a
recent phenomenon. From the fight to abolish the trans atlantic slave trade, to the movement
against “white slavery,” issues involving forced servitude have historically been fought within
the realm of human rights. It is at this junction that the contemporary movement differs from
those of the past. The UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons,
Especially Women and Children of 2000 (known as the Palermo Protocol) took the issue of
human trafficking out of the field of human rights and placed it in the realm of criminal justice
and transnational organized crime. Whereas prior international legislation on the topic was based
in human rights, the Palermo Protocol falls under the jurisdiction of the UN Commission for
Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (Chuang: 2006).
The Palermo Protocol is fundamental in understanding the rise of US hegemony through the
fight against “modern day slavery.” According to Anderson and Andrijasevic (2008)
it is important to remember that the Palermo Protocol, as it is known, is not a
human rights instrument. It is an instrument designed to facilitate cooperation
between states to combat organized crime, rather than to protect or give
restitution to the victims of crime (p. 136)
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